At the time of the park's announcement there were no facilities in the park, and it could only be accessed via the
Ozark Trail. After initially announcing the park open, though largely inaccessible, the park's website was updated to say that as of February 2017[update], it is closed with no access.[2][3]

The name of the new park has been controversial, and on January 12, 2017, Missouri state senator
Gary Romine and state representative
Paul Fitzwater filed bills in their respective chambers to rename the park Proffitt Mountain State Park.[4][5]